Oh Christmas Tree

Our trees through the years

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Doing those things we don't love to do

I just got around to the annual cousin letter. I've always been a procrastinator when it came to the letter, but this year I really didn't want to write anything. I think everyone around me knows that Nolan passed away the day he was born and that it was the most challenging experience of my life. I have written a few things about it, mostly for myself, so I'll remember and so others will know how I feel. I didn't want to revisit those feelings to share with the family too much, but I got something out and it's been a challenge even in its brevity. That's that, so I'm just gonna say it now. If I have another year like this one was I'm not writing anything.

Is there something wrong with my tastes?

Nabisco, what’s going on with you guys? Why can’t you make a proper Mint Oreo cookie to meet my needs?

I got hooked on the idea of a Mint Oreo when those stupid Keebler Elves quit making their old Grasshopper cookies that were essentially a Mint Oreo, not the Girl Scout cookie knockoff that they market as a grasshopper now.
I really liked the Mystic Mints, which evolved into Fudge Covered Mint Oreos. From what I could tell this was an Oreo with a minty filling covered in fudge. But that was discontinued and they introduced a Milk Chocolate Covered Mint Oreo, it wasn’t nearly as good as the Fudge Covered Mint Oreo. As best I know that, eventually, disappeared too.

A while back there was an Oreo Double Delight, the filling was green and white. I was supposed to be minty and creamy, it was tasty, but the consistency of the filling was off. Now there are Cool Mint Oreos, they taste the same to me as the Double Delight Oreos and the filling is off on these too.

Much to my pleasure, the other day I was at the grocery store and I say a limited edition Mint Fudge Covered Oreos. They aren’t quite as good as I remember the original, but still a nice find that I will savor for the time they are available to me.

Just know, I'm really not sure

If you ask me how I'm doing, I'll probably tell you I'm OK all things considered. The truth is I'm not sure how I'm doing, I've never been through anything like this before. I'm getting by, I go to work, I'm trying to do other things that I've always done. Just know that it is alright to talk to me, I am still me and I still like to being social. I may not want to talk about everything that has happened though.

Now you can test for yourself

I came across this colorblind test and thought it would be fun for you to see where you fall in the spectrum. Maybe you're colorblind and don't even know it, but probably not.

Something Fresh, Something Exciting!

While trying to figure out what I should be posting about to generate more interest in my blog I noticed lots of lists on other blogs. Hmm, what could I make a list about?

10 Top ten David Letterman top ten lists? No, I haven’t watched that show consistently for years and have no idea where my brother’s book of top ten lists went.

9 List of things I thought of listing? I think that’s been covered before by many others.

8 Why I’m glad to be the Cubmaster and not the Scoutmaster? No, I’ll just be put in as Scout Master if I make a list like that.

7 Best Moments on Fresh Air with Terry Gross? Ok, I know I’m grasping at straws here.

6 Things I’ve overheard at stores? I actually wanted to make this list, but I forget the funny stuff I hear before I can write it down.

5 Why Reaganomics was so good for me and the country? I didn’t have a clue what economics or Reagan’s policies were while he was in office, so I’m not going to go there now.

4 Poor grammar and why it bugs me? It really does bother me when then and than get mixed up, but I am no master of the English language and grammar in general (as I’m sure you’ve noticed by now).

3 Why The Simpsons is such an enduring television show? I love this show, but I mostly watch it out of loyalty to my reputation as a Simpsons fan. The show is no longer what it used to be.

2 Best Movies Ever! according to Gage? That just generates questions or invites criticism and I don’t want either of those.

1 Bologna and the many ways to pronounce it? Now that’s and idea that came from a David Letterman top ten list, so It’s already been done.

I guess I have made my own top ten list of lists, so suck on that Mr. Letterman!

Gotta use what you can

I took my boys to the zoo this afternoon, it was a fun outing, even if the Utah St., Utah game made the drive home difficult. There was a Snow Leopard cub at the zoo and this sign.

I thought it was a good way to advertise the new Apple OS and help the zoo out at the same time.